Grading scale

Card Grading Scale Explained: What Each Grade Means

White Whale grades cards from 1 to 10 in half points. Every card gets four subgrades (centering, corners, edges and surface), and those subgrades set the final grade. This is our published standard.

Updated October 22, 2026

The White Whale grading scale

Grade	What it means
White Whale (Perfect 10)	All four subgrades exactly 10.
Pristine 10	Three 10s plus one 9.5, or 10s on centering and corners with 9.5s on edges and surface.
Gem Mint 9.5	At least three subgrades at 9.5 or higher; the fourth no lower than 9.
Mint 9	About 55/45 centering with only minor wear or tiny surface imperfections.
Near Mint-Mint+ 8.5	Minor wear becomes more noticeable.
Near Mint-Mint 8	About 60/40 centering; minor chipping or scratches allowed.
Near Mint 7.5 / 7	Visible minor corner or edge wear; about 65/35 centering at 7.
Excellent-Mint 6.5 / Excellent-Near Mint 6	Moderate edge, corner or surface wear.
Excellent 5.5 / 5	Clear handling wear, damage, scratches, stains or loss of gloss.
4 and below	Increasing creases, heavy wear, severe damage, tears or staining.

How subgrades set the final grade

Every card gets four subgrades: centering, corners, edges and surface. The lowest subgrade strongly influences the final grade, so one weak area can't be hidden behind three strong ones.

Only a card with four exact 10 subgrades earns the White Whale (Perfect 10) designation, the top of the scale.

Why half points

Half-point grades record a card's condition more precisely. A card that measures as a 9.5 is graded 9.5 instead of being rounded to a 9 or a 10.

Centering at a glance

Mint 9: about 55/45 or better.
Near Mint-Mint 8: about 60/40.
Near Mint 7: about 65/35.
Your report shows the exact left/right and top/bottom measurements for your card.

Common questions

What is the highest grade at White Whale?

The White Whale (Perfect 10), given only when all four subgrades are exactly 10. Next come Pristine 10 and Gem Mint 9.5.

What centering does a card need for a 9?

Mint 9 allows about 55/45 centering with only minor wear or tiny surface imperfections.

Does White Whale give half grades?

Yes. Every card is graded 1–10 in half points, with four subgrades included at no extra charge.

Can I see my card's subgrades?

Yes. Every card's digital report shows all four subgrades with the measurements, scans, corner close-ups and surface heatmap behind them.

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